Reefing device



(No Model.)

B. G. GAHOON. REBPING DEVICE.

Patented May 12, 1896.

UNlTED STATES PATENT F F lCE.

REEFlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 559,843, dated May 12,1896.

Serial No. 582,916. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. CAHOON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marshficld, in the county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Roofing Device, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates'to recfing devices, and the object in view is toprovide a simple and eifective device which will greatly expedite theoperation of reeiing a sail, the said device being applicable alike tolarge and small sails, or sails of any shape when used in connectionwith a boom and reef-points.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of asufficient portion of a sail and boom to illustrate the application ofthe improved device thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional viewshowing the manner of reefing. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theimproved device per sc.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

The reeiing device herein contemplated is preferably composed of metaland comprises two substantially equal and similar halves or sectionsprovided at adjacent ends with intcrlapping ears, through which isinserted a common pivot, as shown. Each half or section 1 is providedupon its inner surface with two transverse semicircular grooves, one ofsaid grooves 2 being located at the proximal center of its respectivesection and the other groove 3 being located between the groove 2 andthe pivot. These grooves are disposed opposite each other in the twosections and form independent openings through the device when thesections are brought together, as shown in Fig. 2, the central openingbeing adapted to embrace the bolt-rope at the foot of the sail, whilethe other opening adjacent to the pivot receives the lacing-rope, bywhich the device is permanently attached to the boom, (indicated at 4:.)At the swinging end of one of the sections and upon its inner surface isa pin 5, which projects toward the opposing soction and passes throughan opening 6 in said section when the device is closed. The pin isformed with a longitudinal slot 7, opening out at the end of the pin,and in the end of said slot is mounted pi votally a metal 'catch 8, of awidth adapting it to be passed through the opening 6 and of a lengthsufficient to enable it to engage against the outer surface of thesection having the opening (3 after it has been inserted through thesame and given a quarter-turn, as shown in Fig. 2.

The outer surface of the section containing the opening 6 is recessed,as at S), to form a flat shoulder or bearing-surface for the catch 8. Toapply the device to the sail, an eyelet is formed therein just above thebolt-rope, and the pin 5 is passed through such eyelet and through theopposing section 1 of the device and locked in the manner abovedescribed, in which position the bolt-rope at the foot of the sail isreceived in the opening 2. A lacing-cord 10 is then rove through theopening 3 and made fast to the boom in an y convenient manner. Byemploying a suitable number of these devices the sail will thus bepermanently connected at its bottom edge to the boom. Each of thesections 1 has upon its outer surface a hook 11 with a depending bill,and these hooks are intended to receive rings 12, attached to thereef-points upon opposite sides of the sail. The reefpoints arepreferably extended beyond their points of connection with the rings 12,so as to afford a handhold, whereby they may be grasped and drawn uponin order to bring the rings down far enough to engage under and with thehooks 11. In order to guard against the possibility of the ringsbecoming disengaged from the hooks and releasing the same, the oppositeends of the reef-points may be tied around the boom or passed througheyes therein, according to the nature of the boom.

By means of the construction above described it will be at once apparentthat a sail may be reefed in a very short space of time. After slackingthe sail it is only necessary to engage the rings 12 of the particularseries of reef-points desired under the books 11, whereupon the sailmaybe immediately hoisted and stretched. This requires a small amount oftime and trouble compared with the old method of tying each reef-pointseparately.

The device is very simple in construct-ion, may be manufactured atslight cost, and is preferably galvanized to prevent corrosion.

' It may be manufactured in sizes to suit the requirements,and it willbe apparent that other changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Areefing device, comprising opposing hinged sections adapted to be closedupon and to engage the sail and having provision whereby it may beattached to the boom, and one or more hooks carried by one or both ofsaid sections and adapted to be engaged by the reef-points,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A reefing device, comprising opposing sections adapted to be movedapart and provided in their inner adjacent faces with opposing recessesor grooves for the reception of the bolt-rope of the sail when thesections are closed thereon, means for attaching the device to the boom,and one or more hooks attached to either or both of the sections andadapted to receive the reef-points, substantially as described.

3. The herein described rcefin g device, com-prising two opposingsections pivotally connected at adjacent ends and provided at their freeends, one with a pin and the other with an opening therefor, a latch orstop carried by the pin and adapted to engage the opposing section forholding the sections together, and a hook or hooks upon one or both ofsaid sections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. The herein described reefing device, comprising opposing sectionsformed in their inner adjacent surfaces with oppositely-disposedrecesses or grooves which when the sec tions are closed form openings,one for the bolt-rope at the foot of the sail and the other for thelacing-cord by which the device is secured to the boom, means forlocking said sections together, and one or more hooks carried by saidsections and adapted to receive the reef-points, substantially asspecified.

5. In a reefing device, the opposing sections :adapted to be moved apartto clasp the sail,

hooks carried by said sections, and locking means for holding thesections closed, in combination with the reef-points having rings orloops permanently attached thereto, said rings being adapted to beengaged with the hooks on the reefin g device, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing my own I have hereto affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN G. CAIIOON.

\Vitnesses:

JosErH N. ATKINS, PRINCE A. ATKINS.

